Speculative Data Flow Graph Execution with Quality-Based Actor Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data flow graph execution methods fail to ensure deterministic and efficient execution, particularly in the presence of uncertainty such as network failures or external resource unavailability, and cannot select the best result among multiple agents with varying qualities in real-time systems.

Innovation Solution

A system that executes data flow graphs by using multiple actors to independently calculate the same data, producing quality descriptors, and selecting the actor with the most favorable result based on a synchronization mechanism and clock interrupts, ensuring real-time constraints and optimal quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple agents execute the same task with different qualities, then the quality of result can be improved, but it becomes difficult to determine which agent produced the best result

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality of resultVSAvoiddifficulty of determining best result
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where agents report their execution status and quality descriptors to a synchronization system. The synchronization system collects feedback from multiple agents, compares quality descriptors, and determines which agent produced the best result. This resolves the contradiction by providing a systematic way to evaluate and select the best quality result among multiple agents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The synchronization system acts as an intermediary between multiple agents and the final result selection. It receives data from multiple agents, processes quality descriptors, and determines the best result without requiring direct comparison logic in each agent. This mediator approach simplifies the overall system by centralizing the complexity of quality assessment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the system waits for all agents to complete execution, then the best result can be selected, but real-time constraints may be violated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality of resultVSAvoidreal-time constraint compliance
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The synchronization system implements partial action by selecting the best result from agents that have completed execution within the time constraint, rather than waiting for all agents. If some agents complete within the deadline, their results are evaluated and the best is selected, even if other agents are still executing. This partial evaluation approach maintains real-time constraints while still achieving quality selection among available results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by establishing execution time constraints and monitoring agent completion status in real-time. The synchronization system is prepared to select the best result as soon as sufficient agents complete within the time constraint, rather than waiting passively for all agents. This preliminary preparation enables timely result selection while maintaining quality assessment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the system executes multiple agents in parallel, then productivity increases, but uncertainty regarding execution outcomes increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexecution speedVSAvoidexecution certainty
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The synchronization system uses feedback from multiple parallel agents to resolve execution uncertainty. Each agent reports its execution status and quality descriptor, allowing the system to verify which agents completed successfully and determine the best result among them. This feedback mechanism maintains reliability by systematically evaluating execution outcomes despite parallel execution uncertainties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of result selection by evaluating quality descriptors from multiple agents rather than relying on a single deterministic execution. By introducing quality assessment as a variable parameter, the system can select the best result among uncertain parallel executions, transforming reliability from a binary condition to a graded selection process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Stability of the object's composition

If the system uses synchronous execution, then deterministic behavior is achieved, but adaptability to varying execution contexts is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeterministic executionVSAvoidadaptability to execution context
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The synchronization system introduces dynamics by allowing the execution model to adapt based on agent completion status and quality descriptors. Rather than rigid synchronous execution, the system dynamically selects results from agents that have completed within time constraints, adjusting the effective execution model based on actual system state. This dynamic approach maintains determinism in result selection while adapting to varying execution contexts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The synchronization system serves multiple functions: it coordinates parallel execution, evaluates quality descriptors, enforces time constraints, and selects the best result. This multi-functional approach allows the system to maintain deterministic behavior through structured evaluation while adapting to different execution contexts through flexible result selection based on agent performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3198442B1Speculative and iterative execution of delayed data flow graphs
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 COMMISSARIAT A LENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
  • EP3198442B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1c
  • EP3198442B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3198442B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4d

AI summary

the present invention relates to the execution of data flow graphs with distributed calculations. More specifically, it relates to a system for execution of a dataflow graph (300), said dataflow graph (300) comprising: at least two first actors (310, 311) each comprising means for independently executing a calculation on a same dataset comprising at least one datum, and producing a quality descriptor of the dataset, the execution of the calculation by each of said at least two first actors being triggered by a synchronization system; a third actor (320), comprising triggering means for the execution of the calculation by each of said at least two first actors, and initializing a timer configured to emit an interruption signal when a duration is expired; a fourth actor (330), comprising means for executing, at the latest at the interruption signal of said timer: the selection, from the set of said at least two first actors having produced a quality descriptor, of which the descriptor presents the most favourable value; and the transfer of the dataset calculated by the selected actor.